The Portland daily press., 1887-03-18
He Refutes the Charge That the Leg
isiature Has Been Extravagant.
Governor BodweII, President Marble
and Speaker LittlefIeId Given
Presents,
And Major Dickey, the Veteran Leg
lslator, is Also Remembered.
Special to the Press.l

AUGUSTA, Marcn IL.
The Sixty-Third Legislature came to an
end at midnight The last hours were spent
in farewell speeches.
In the Senate large crayon likeness of
himself was presented to President Marble
Mr.. Gushee made a very fitting presentation
speech. In the House Mr.. Scott, the young
Democrat from Clifton, introduced resolu-
tions of good will towards Speaker Little
field, and supported them in appropriate
speech. He was followed by Messrs. Dickey,
Manleys B.adley, Dow, Newbert, Walton
Shaw, Gushing and Condor. The speeches
were appropriate beftting the last hours of
the session.
The concluding words of Mr.. Manley's
are of public interest. He said:
Il cannot permit this opportunity to pass
without calling the attention of the House to
the record we have made. 1t has been as
travagant Legislature, making unusual APP
preparations. The record shows that the
Legislature of 1885 appropriated for the
years 1856 $2,619, ,40049.
1t is true that we.have in a few cases in
creased to limited degree the salaries of
worthy officers, and we have dealt generous
ly, as we ought, with the charitable and
educational interests of the State. but our
appropriations for the years 1SS7-S are only
81, 446, ,720.26 showing reduction of $172,-
6S0.23, and completely refuting the false as
sertion of our extravaganza. Again, gentle
men, we have reduced the annual amount of
the tax to be assessed on the people of this
State $236 0207, thus tightening to an APP
preciable degree the burden of every tax
payer. 1t is a record in which we can take
pride and confidently appeal for an appr0v-
ing verdict from the people.
aI,oe DI,,4s<
through Mr.. Horrigan, the young Democrat
from Biddeford, made the speech presenting
to the Speaker, in behalf of the House, a
large crayon portrait of Mr.. Littlefeld
and two albums for photographs of the
members Of the House. Mr.. littlefeld's s
reply was very appropriate and touching.
He referred to the work done by the House,
to the length of the session, and the good
will and courtesy that had prevailed through
all the stormy debates. AS he declared the
Legislature adjourned just as the hands of
the clock reached midnight, there was many
legislator with lump in his throat and
one or two were seen crying.
After adjournment Speaker Littlefeld, in
behalf of the Legislature and State officials,
presented to Governor Bodwell large
crayon portrait of His Excellency.
These ceremonies concluded, the senators,
representatives and officials departed. leav-
ing the Capitol to the night watchmen.
The presentation of portraits was begun
this ate rnoon, when Mr.. Walton, in behalf
of the House, presented to Major Dickey a
LARGE crayon likeness of the oldest legislator
This presentation of portraits is something
new, being suggested by j. F. Gerrity & Co.,
artists, of Bangor, who have been exhibiting
their work at the Capitol.
Tho Medical Registration Bill Vetoed.
Late this evening Governor Bodwell sent
to the Senate the following veto of the bill
to regulate the practice of medicine
To the Senate Of the Sirty-Third LegislG.
tlTe,
the branch in which it originated IAN act to
regulate the practice of medicine" The OBJ
lectl0ns to the act are numerous, the most
serious of which are contained in the four
teenth section. After providing that physi-
clans already in practice shall be compelled
to register and pay fee of So for the priv
ilege, the section declares that in default Of
registration and certifcation, a physician,
regardless of the years I0f his practice or his
| professional rank may be heavily fined and
| sent to prison; and even after that ignomin-
| l0us punishment, he shall have no right tC
collect his fees for medical services. The
| meaning of the section is somewhat confused
| and obscure, but enough is plain to show
| that 1t is in open conflict with the ninth sec
tion in the. declaration of rights in the
Maine constitution, which declares that "al
| penalties and punishments shall be proper
| toned to the offence" that "excessiyes fines
| shall not be imposed" that "cruel and unus
| ual pn4ishments. shall not be inflicted
To require merely perfunctory duty from &
physician already in practice, and then X
enact that if he fails or neglects to perform
it he shall be made the prey of the informer
| may be fined $780, imprisoned six month
and actually deprived of the emoluments ant
gains of his profession, would seem to be re
| pugnant not only to the letter, but to th
entire spirit Of the organic law of the State
The third section OF the act provides for
| permanent board of medical examination
and registration, to be composed OF fly
members with terms Of five years each. tn
| members of the board shall meet as often a
in their discretion they may choose, and tn
pay of each member shall be five dollars pc
day and travelling expenses. With all tn
duties deyolved upon the board by the ac
they would pyQbably be in session larg
portion of the year. Their pay in the aggrt
It i to be taken from the pocl
cts of the medical profession of th
State by series of fees, exacti0n
and fines for the levying of which there ISL
| my judgment, no justification whatever.
there be ap evil in the State of the magn
tude which the act presumes and promise
then it should be extirpated at the expens
Of the public treasury, ,and.not made chare
upon the medical profession, IT would ce
lainly be unjust to exact fees and charge
from physicians of established professions
character in order that the State may
freed from improper practitioners. III
| powers of the board of examination an
| registration are widely extended and el
larged IA tho seventh section of the act.
effect the members OF the board appear
medical school in Maine, In which person
who are not graduates of an existing institl
ton. and vet aspire to the practice of med
cine shall be compelled to go before II
board of registration and be examined as
proficiency In ''the English language ana Il
hygiene, chemistry, taxocology, the elegIe
tary principles Of histology, surgery, obst
ties and ia pathology, and altrology..
all examinations shall be either wholly VIII
, ten, or in part written, or in part oral, as Il
/ said board shall determine. This eplarg'
. provision might not improbably, in tim
8 lead to a school of medicine in Maine whit
would impose upon the State class of pra
5 titioners as little qualified for their impor
1 ant duties as those against whom this act
+ difectea, Next to the constitutional obje
: tion TO which ! have already adverted, Il
+ most serious objection to the act is the has
4 mode of its passage. =" II for no other reast
I than to give the Legislature the dpp0rtani
. TO recoqsider the measure, would feel co
t strained TO return 1t, as now do. If it
e urged that there is no time for reconsider
& tion, answer that that fact of itself is
good reason for the interposition of NV Q
lection. An act involving so many gra
Consequences 70 the medical professio
II touching at so many points the interests, t
g feelings, and even the prejudices Of the pC
Pile, should not be enacted under the DR.